Sufferers of a serious lung condition are invited to come along to the first meeting of a support group set up by the respiratory team from Sandwell and West Birmingham NHS Trust.
Sarah Evans, Clinical Nurse Specialist at the Trust, has helped to set up the Pulmonary Fibrosis Support Group for patients, carers, relatives and friends, with the first meeting being held on Thursday 13th September.
It is open to sufferers of Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis (IPF) which affects around 6,000 people each year. The condition was recently highlighted after it was revealed legendary TV presenter Keith Chegwin died of the condition and Katie Price’s mum Amy is currently battling it.
Sarah said: “IPF is a debilitating illness which can have quite an emotional effect on sufferers. It limits their quality of life in a big way and they have to overcome this and learn to manage their symptoms which include shortness of breath, a persistent dry cough, tiredness, loss of appetite, weight loss and rounded and swollen fingertips.
She added: “Within the last year the Trust has started to deliver a nursing service for patients with pulmonary fibrosis. We were approached by the charity Action for Pulmonary Fibrosis about setting up a support group for sufferers of Pulmonary Fibrosis – we agreed as we also felt that this was something that was needed in the area.
“As a result we will hold our first meeting this month. It is open to people living in the area who are affected by the condition and would like peer support, hearing how fellow sufferers deal with their symptoms and day-to-day challenges.”
The support group will meet on the 13th September at West Bromwich Library, High Street, between 1-3pm.